06/05/2026
📢 Community Safety Update: Understanding Door-to-Door Vendor Permits
We frequently receive questions from residents about individuals selling products, services, or home upgrades door-to-door. To keep our neighborhoods safe and informed, the city requires all mobile vendors and solicitors to obtain a official Vendor Permit before operating.
While it might seem like just a formality, this permitting process is one of our most effective tools for community safety and awareness. Here is why it matters:
🛡️ 1. Prioritizing Resident Safety
Before the city issues a door-to-door permit, the individuals or companies undergo a verification process.
•Background & Legitimacy: Permitting requires businesses to prove who they are, register with the city, and undergo standard vetting. This helps deter bad actors or fraudulent operations.
•Official Identification: Permitted vendors are typically required to carry their city-issued permit or ID badge on them. This gives you, the homeowner, an instant way to verify that the person on your porch is authorized to operate in our city.
🧠 2. Community Awareness & Choice
Knowing who is operating in our neighborhoods empowers our residents.
•Tracking Activity: The city keeps a record of which companies are permitted to knock on doors. If a resident reports suspicious behavior, code enforcement and local law enforcement can easily verify if the group is registered.
•Respecting Your Privacy: Permitting laws reinforce your right to privacy. If you have a visible "No Soliciting" sign posted on your property, permitted vendors are legally required to respect it and bypass your home.
Ord No. 61: Sect 3- Vendor Permit-rules.
💡 Tips for Residents: What to Do at the Door:
If a salesperson knocks on your door, remember these quick tips:
1. Ask to see their City Vendor Permit. Legitimate vendors will happily show you their credentials.
2. Always use caution. Don't feel pressured. You are never obligated to open the door, sign a contract on the spot, or let anyone inside your home.
3. Report unpermitted solicitors. If a solicitor refuses to show a permit, becomes aggressive, or ignores a "No Soliciting" sign, please contact City Hall or non emergency services with the Brown County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for helping us keep our community safe, informed, and connected!
